I bought this bonsai (I think its bonsai) about two weeks ago at walmart and I for the life of me cannot figure oput what kind of bonsai it is, its looks alot like a spruce but at the same time there are qualities that make it look not so much like a spruce and the four or five trunks sprouting from the bottom, what so I do with those? I have never seen a bonsai with so many shoots from the base, slightly annoyed!! Should I keep it outside till the temp drops too ?? IDK!!! Well I tried to post pics but the forum wont let me I dont know what to do !!

Last edited by dioinrio on Tue Oct 25, 2011 8:09 pm; edited 2 times in total (Reason for editing : POST PICS)

Chill. You are in bonsai hog heaven. Contact Pauline Muth, Pauline@pfmBonsai.comShe is over near Amsterdam. She will tell you exactly what you have and how to take care of it. Go to her web site, PFMBonsai.comThere you will find all the upcoming activities at her studio and the local bonsai club (click on the newsletter).Enjoy.Iris

dont dispare about the tree you bought - all material can be made into a tree like image one way or another, and early trees are essential for practice. Also there is no point being slightly annoyed - you chose the tree and paid for it after all so it must have had some qualities you liked. if you cant upload the pic directly just upload it to a photobucket type siter and paste the link into your reply, people can click the link to see your tree.

Even Wal-Mart plants should have label with them saying what the plant is.

_________________Jim Lewis - lewisjk@windstream.net - Western NC - People, when Columbus discovered this country, it was plumb full of nuts and berries. And I'm right here to tell you the berries are just about all gone. Uncle Dave Macon, old-time country musician

JimLewis wrote:Even Wal-Mart plants should have labels with them saying what the plant is.

Don't bet on it. Many states, including New York (I believe), have laws about the labeling of OUTDOOR plants. There are no laws regarding pot plants, except that they must be healthy. There is a law among mail order nurseries that a plant must be true to name. If it turns out to be not what it is labeled, you can ask for a refund. The box stores, variety stores, & groceries sell unlabeled orchids by the thousands, so I am not surprised that they also sell unlabeled bonsai. Let the buyer beware! Iris

dioinrio wrote: the four or five trunks sprouting from the bottom, what do I do with those?

Your tree probably wants to grow in clump style. If you Google on Clump Style Bonsai, you will get lots of ideas. Let us see a picture. Prune your group to an odd number of trunks, three or five. The trees should all be different heights, the thickest trunk should be the tallest. For more advice, we need a picture.Iris